Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) analysis confirms the ACT as leading the nation in terms of people with non-school qualifications (e.g. TAFE certificate, bachelor degree).

In the ACT 58% of people aged 15-64 had a non-school qualification as at May 2004, compared to the national figure of 51%. The information released today was part of further analysis from the publication Education & Work, Australia (cat. no. 6227.0) released in December 2004.

Nearly 50,000 ACT people were enrolled in a course of study, of which 18% were not Australian born. Females accounted for 54% of ACT enrolments.

Nearly everyone (97%) studying in the ACT was enrolled in a course of study which led to a qualification. A third of enrolments were for a bachelor degree, the most common form of study.

Other highlights include:

More females than males have completed courses of study at the bachelor degree level, but more males than females have completed postgraduate studies.

Of those enrolled in a course of study, 29% were employed full-time and 38% were employed part-time. A further 4% were unemployed and 29% were not in the labour force.

Compared with the national figure of 19%, the ACT had 30% of people with a bachelor degree or above.

Further information is available in Education and the ACT (cat. no. 1344.8.55.001).